Environmental Projects at ISOP (2009-2010)

October was Coastal Awareness month and 3 field trips were held to raise awareness of our coastline in Cyprus. Year 7 visited Corellia Beach and Year 8 visited Aigios Georgious (Peyia) with the Science Department to look at the environment, flora and fauna and the amount of pollution on the coast. The physical geography was studied, and the students considered the impact of humans along the coastline.

 
Year 7

After each field trip the students prepared posters to report their findings, these were then displayed in the School Entrance and Science Department.
The beach was cleaned by the students at the end of the Year 8 trip, and they were amazed at the amount, and type, of rubbish found.
 

Some of Year 8’s collection!

Also during October the PE Department took the IGCSE PE group to the beach as part of Coastal Awareness Month in conjunction with AKTI (Nicosia). The students spent the day looking at coastal use and how we can use the beach to exercise. Following this, AKTI then produced a booklet and ran a poster competition to advertise the uses of beaches. Year 9 participated in the competition which was co-ordinated through the Art Department, and the winner’s poster is to be printed and used along the Geroskipou’s Municipality beaches this summer.
March 22nd is World Water Day, and to mark this important date (especially after the recent drought in Cyprus) Year 9 visited Asprokremmos Dam for the day. The students spent the day looking at the Dam, its capacity and hydroelectric generator before going downstream from the dam and looking at the wildlife there. There are 3 ponds that are kept full all year round so are full of interesting creatures as Year 9 discovered.

Along the theme of pollution the International Award Bronze and Silver groups looked at the levels of pollution (and road-kill) as their purpose during their Adventurous Journey’s this spring. Three groups went out during April and May in the Droushi / Polis / Akamas areas for 2 – 3 days walking between 24 – 48 km as part of their Awards. Following their hikes they had to present their findings and the amount of pollution they found was amazing...
 
…and following this we hope to be able to link in a Service project next year on reducing the amount of rubbish dumped in our beautiful countryside.

During the year both a Junior and Senior Environment Club ran and one of the aims of these was to reduce the schools environmental impact, and hopefully reduce our carbon footprint. The Junior Environmental Club successfully set up a number of paper recycling points in the school (particularly near the photocopiers) and some bins for recycling cans. The cans are not only recycled, but collected for “Cans For Kids” which is a national charity. The money raised is spent in the central paediatric hospital for the children’s wards of Markarios Hospital, Nicosia.
So what next? If you have any concerns regarding our environment and the human impact, recycling, conservation or have any suggestions for improving our environment in the future, PLEASE speak out and maybe next year we can do even more to improve and protect our delicate environment that is our beautiful island of Cyprus.
 

Coastal Awareness October 2008

In October 2008, ISOP took part in Coastal Awareness month.  This is an awareness-raising campaign to highlight the importance of Integrated Coastal Zone Management.  An environmental charity based in Nicosia, called AKTI, assisted the school'’s Science Department in organising trips for Years 7 to 9 to investigate the beaches around Paphos.  160 students visited 3 different beaches in the Paphos area and looked at the flora and fauna of the areas, amount of marine life and the impact of human development on these coastal areas.

Year 9 visited the Baths of Aphrodite, Latchi and were shocked at how much rubbish was on the beach, and the type of rubbish found included umbrellas, sun beds and condoms.  Despite this, there were some forms of marine life to be found and when they had finished their studies, they cleaned the beach and filled a large wheelie bin at the top of the beach with the rubbish collected, much to the surprise of passing tourists.

Year 7 visited Coralia Beach, Peyia and found a surprising amount of wildlife, including a sea-hare.  Fortunately, they did not have to clean the beach as it is such a large tourist area there was very little litter to be found.

Year 8 went to Agios Georgios, Peyia where they found an array of marine-life including an octopus.  Unfortunately, the amount of pollution found was wide-ranging, including mattresses (yes, plural), light bulbs, cans and wood.  Despite the initial reluctance of the students who thought they were “paying to go and clean a beach”, they soon saw how important it was.

Once they came back to the school, each group collated their information into a pictorial form.  These posters were then displayed around the media room for visitors to see as the study culminated in a presentation to persons representing AKTI, the Mayor of Paphos and  Xenia Loizou, the Ambassador for AKTI who works at Thessolaniki